When it’s time to replace a mattress, it can be hard to get rid of the old one. A discarded mattress can rarely be donated or re-used, but hauling it off to the landfill is terrible for the environment. Many people don’t realize that mattresses can actually be broken down and recycled. Not every municipal recycling facility will accept them, but there are some private companies that specialize in recycling mattresses and furniture. Mattress Recycling in Minneapolis MN involves breaking down the mattress into its components.
Foam
The mattress is placed on a conveyor belt where a saw cuts away the cover and polyurethane foam from the top and the bottom. The polyurethane foam is ground and used to fabricate things like carpet underlayment and moving pads.
Fabric
The fabric that covers a mattress is typically made of plant-based and animal-based materials like cotton, wool, and silk. These fabrics can be re-used to make things like clothing and pet beds.
Metal
The next step is to pull apart the metal frame and coils. This is done very quickly with magnets, and the steel coils, most likely made from recycled metal, are bundled together and sold as scrap metal. The metal is eventually melted down and used in steel manufacturing.
Fibers
Finally, the remaining fibers are shredded and baled. Cotton fibers can be mixed with wood to make engine oil filters. Fibers may also be used to make insulation.
Wood
Since box-spring frames are made with the parts of a tree that are not used for construction or paper, this wood is not recycled as a construction material. However, it can be chipped and re-purposed as landscaping mulch or stuffing for pet beds.
The whole process of breaking down a single mattress takes only a few minutes. Mattress recycling yields a large number of useful resources and significantly decreases the greenhouse gasses that would otherwise be used to produce those resources. It also saves trees that would otherwise be cut down. To learn more about Mattress Recycling in Minneapolis MN, check out Mudek Trucking and J & J Recycling. They recycle mattresses, other furniture, appliances, electronics, and ceramic goods.
